Alongside its traditional candybar style phones, Google has also announced the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, the latest iteration of its foldable smartphone. While the majority of its improvements relate to the phone part of it, there are some updates to the camera, too.
Like its predecessor, the Fold has a three camera array: the mix of wide, ultrawide and telephoto we’ve come to expect from most modern smartphones. While its cameras aren’t up to par with the ones found on the non-folding Pixel 11 Pro – in fact, one of them is worse than the one on the standard Pixel 11 – the sensor in the main wide camera is an improvement over the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. It now uses the same 48MP Type 1/1.56 sensor (48mm²) found in the standard Pixel 11, which is noticeably larger than the Type 1/2 (30.7mm²) model used by its predecessor.
| Pixel 11 Pro Fold | Pixel 11 Pro | Pixel 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main (wide) | |||
| Lens | 24mm equiv. F1.7 |
24mm equiv. F1.68 |
24mm equiv. F1.7 |
| Sensor | Type 1/1.56 (48mm²) 48MP |
Type 1/1.3 (72mm²) 50MP |
Type 1/1.56 (48mm²) 48MP |
| Ultrawide | |||
| Lens | 9mm equiv. F2.2 |
13mm equiv. F1.7 |
13mm equiv. F2.2 |
| Sensor | Type 1/3.4 (13mm²) 10.5 MP |
Type 1/2.51 (23.5mm²) 48MP |
Type 1/3.1 (16.1mm²) 13MP |
| Telephoto | |||
| Lens | 110mm equiv. F3.1 |
106mm equiv. F2.8 |
|
| Sensor | Type 1/3.2 (15.5mm²) 10.8MP |
Type 1/1.95 (32mm²) 48MP |
Type 1/3.2 (15.5mm²) 10.8MP |
Otherwise, the phone features the same ultrawide and telephoto sensors as its predecessor, though Google now gives you the option of doing a 30x “Super Zoom” crop on the 5x lens. The camera bar has also been redesigned, and now includes the “HiLight” multi-color notification indicator, which can tell you if you’re receiving a call from a particular contact, even when your phone is face-down.
While the cameras may represent relatively mild upgrades, the rest of the phone has gotten more attention, starting with its build. Google says it’s 10% lighter and 1mm thinner than its predecessor, and yet three times more durable. While it’s hard to really quantify durability in a way that can be multiplied, like its predecessor the Pixel 11 Pro Fold has an IP68 dust and water resistance rating.
The real gains likely come from the back of the phone, which Google says is made from a glass fiber composite that’s “nearly impossible to crack.” The front 6.5″ display also now uses an “ultra durable” ceramic glass.